Maryam Al Arbeed

We as health professionals emphasis on the importance of patient safety. What is patient safety and why it is important?

According to several published studies, if a hospital has a safe patient culture they will have less medical errors and increased patient satisfaction.
According to world health organization “patient safety is the absence of preventable harm to patient during the process of healthcare”, and according to Wikipedia, patient safety is “a discipline that emphasizes safety in health care through the prevention, reduction, reporting, and analysis of medical errors that often leads to adverse effects”.

After prolonged surveys and study’s by WHO they found several types of medical errors which lead to harm to the patient that can be prevented. Then they prioritized these errors according to likelihood of happening. After that through evedince-based practice they established set of interventions that would help healthcare organizations to stop these errors from happening or reaching the patient and cause harm, this set of interventions are called patient safety solutions.

National accreditation standards for hospitals lists them as Patient Safety Required Areas (PSRA) for the hospital to be accredited.

These Patient Safety Required Areas are:

1- Patient verification

2- Transfer of patient information at transition point

3- Medication reconciliation

4- Safe surgical practices

5- Control of concentrated electrolytes

6- Training on patient safety

7- Hand hygiene

8- Timely administration of prophylactic antibiotics

9- Safe injection practices

10- Performance of correct procedure at correct body site

11- Look alike sound alike medication names

12- Avoiding catheter and tubing misconceptions

Finally, I would like to thank Quality and Accreditation Directorate for conducting Kuwait Conference on Quality in Healthcare in the Regency Hotel on the 13th to 15th of March 2017, under the patronage of his excellency Dr. Jamal Al-Harbi, the minister of health in Kuwait. The conference was held during world patient safety awareness week, which is dedicated to educate and spread awareness about the importance of having patient safety culture in healthcare organizations.

The conference program was about:

1- Exchange quality improvement experiences

2- Generate momentum for change in your organization

3- Learn latest quality improvement issues, tools, and techniques

4- Network with like-minded colleagues

So thanks to all of the organizers who made it happen, thanks to all the speakers who made it interesting, and a big “Thank You” to all who attended, you made the conference serve it’s purpose.

We are in march and worldwide is dedicated for the education of MS. Let’s first explain what is MS?it is the short name off multiple sclerosis disease. It is an inflamatory iimmune disease with unknown causes, it attacks the myelin sheath which in the nerve fibers which is responsible for transmitting nerve impulses from the spinal cord to the brain.

The symptoms varies from person to person, but the most common symptoms are:

1- Sensory loss

2- Muscle spasms

3- Bladder and bowel incontinance

4- Vision problems

5- Depression

6- Concentration and memory problems

Diagnosis of MS consist of:-

– Clinical examination to identify related symptoms

– Then the patient has to do an MRI and sometimes lumbar puncture

The aim of treatment is to delay the progress of the disease and reduce the symptoms

Now I have MS what do I feel? What to do next?

Patients who suffer from MS, their main complain is like they ares loosing control of their body, this is as a result of poor communication between the nerves.

What to do next? Let us elaborate on that:

1- Do not give up, you are not alone. Being in a support group helps the patient psychologically.

2- Relax; getting periods of rest will ease the symptoms

3- Exercise will help you in maintaining muscle tone and strengthen the body to keep the balance and coordination.

4- Try not to be exposed to extreme temperatures especially heat, hot temperatures can aggravate symptoms, when you experience this situation try to apply cold compresses to reduce the symptoms.

5- Like all chronic illnesses, keeping nutrients as well as a balanced diet is important to provide the body with adequate nutrients.

Toothache is a pain that occurs around the tooth, it usually happens in the worse circumstances, the pain is intolerable, and it may affect all over the face. i can not think of anyone who did not have it, no matter the age, in one point of your life you will get it.

Causes:

The most common cause is tooth decay, but it can be other causes such as:

Trauma to the tooth

Infection

Gum disease

And more serious causes like heart attack, or angina.

When to go to the dentist:

The question we all wonder about is when we seek medical advise for toothache? according to e medicine health they recommend to seek help when:

Start to have fever

Swelling of gum, teeth, or throat with difficulty swallowing

The pain is not relieved with over the counter medication

If the person has previous medical history

Home remedy:

To be completely honest lets face it, the first thing most people do when they have toothache look for traditional home remedies. some of these remedies are been advised by Arizona family dental:

QN works within the framework of established objectives, policies and protocols of Quality and Accreditation Directorate, hospitals/PHC and nursing department. QN has the responsibility to facilitate improvement of service in health care facility according to the recommended standard of quality health care. QN works under the direct supervision of Quality & Accreditation Directorate and pursuit opportunities for continuous improvement.

3- DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

participates in quality committees in accordance with their approved rules and regulation in the hospital/PHC.

collects quality indicators data in coordination with health care department and communicate the results and recommendation with concerned department.

participates in quality improvement studies and follows the result and recommendation.

identifies and prioritizes health care related problems and solve it using quality improvement tools and communicates result to concern department.

follows up implementation of quality and accreditation directorate plans and programs.

one who contributes to aspects of over all organization of the nursing services and assumes leadership in the administration of the nursing services, day, evening, and night.

she or (he) is directly responsible to the director of nursing and nursing services.

major responsibilities are:

1- Planning and organization:

a. works within a framework of the ministry of public health, the division of nursing, and the policies and practices in the specific facility – hospitals, schools, clinics, health centers, interprets and implements the policies and exercises judgement in matters to be referred.

b. gives guidance to area or ward head nurse in the organization of the nursing personnel and environment for effective patient care and services.

c. contributes to effective management and control of supplies and equipment and makes recommendations for changes in quality and quantity.

d. consult with heads of service areas, pharmacy, stores, food and housekeeping services, in matters regarding improvement of services to patients, recommends changes in current practices.

2- Administration and co-ordination:

a. develops and carries out a supervisory program, guides area or ward head nurses in their administration of the nursing services in accordance with established policies and programs.

b. takes major responsibility for evaluating standards of comprehensive patient care, observe patients, nursing personnel, and environment, and on the basis of findings, submits evaluation reports to the director of nursing and nursing services as an index of the effectiveness of the total nursing services and nursing personnel.

c. makes written recommendations to the director of nursing and nursing services for changes that may be indicated.

d. maintains records and reports that provide for continuity in the administrative process.

f. takes initiative ( especially evening and night) to keep the director of nursing and nursing services advised of unusual situations which may need referral to the medical or hospital director, or may be authorized to contact either one directly.

3- Education and staff development:

a. participates in and has major responsibility for development and implementation of an orientation program for patients, and for nursing service personnel.

b. works actively with the total staff development program, constantly interprets its purposes and contributes to evaluation of its effectiveness (may be the person in the organization designated to organize the program).

c. makes proposals for studies with a view to raising standards of patient care and maintaining morale of staff at optimum level.

d. gives guidance to personnel in patient teaching as well as in giving care to patients.

e. assumes responsibility for her reading and study program and encourages others to do so.

one who is responsible for the administration of a single ward (unit) in the hospital (25-23) patients, a unit in a clinic service, or school health service, a unit in an operating room, labor or delivery room, emergency room, central supply service, out patient service, or an employee health service.

the head nurse is directly responsible to the assistant director in nursing service.

major responsibilities center around:

1- planning and organization:

a- estimating the numbers and categories of personnel needed to meet the needs of patients and submitting requests for same with justifications.

b- on the basis of nursing service philosophy and objectives and standards for patient care make assignment and work schedule for best utilization and patient services.

c- promoting and integrating the medical, administrative and over all division of nursing policies in to a pattern of ward policies and procedures.

d- securing the necessary supplies and equipment to facilitate the work of personnel and arranging for their maintenance and repair.

e- organization and control of the environment to provide for comfort and safety factors and promote conditions for recovery and promoting inter personal relationships conductive to co-operative effort and co-ordination of people and their services.

2- administration and co-ordination:

a- implementing policies, procedures, standards, in nursing service by supervising the activities of all nursing personnel, evaluating their effectiveness in accordance with established programs of supervision and evaluation, giving guidance as needed.

b- developing and maintaining harmonious working relationships(and schedules) with department heads who provide services, materials and equipment for use with patients advises them of the kind and amount needed to carry on the work with patients.

c- developing schedules (policies and procedures) with x-ray, laboratories, physical medicine and all treatment services so their requirements can be incorporated in the plan of care for patients and adjustments made as needed.

d- understanding and interpreting the scope and role of nursing care and services and requiring nursing personnel to remain within the limits, so maximum amount of time may be devoted to meeting patient needs for care and services on the wards (units).

e- through round making with doctors and a system of records and reports, acquaints the doctors with development in patients condition and reaction; and providing instruction to patients consisted with the medical diagnosis and plan of care.

f- preparing reports that contribute to continuity in patient care and comprehensive health services in all facilities.

g- solving problems as they arise and exercising judgement in referring matters requiring further consideration and action to the clinical area assistant director, or the assistant director in nursing service.

h- making adjustment in time schedules and assignments consistent with policies in the nursing services and needs on the ward (units).

I- teaching nursing personnel economical use of supplies and equipment used in giving care.

j- implementing personnel policies and keeping nursing personnel informed of changes as they occur, or involving them when ward decisions are to be made.

k- acquainting nursing personnel with expectations relating to the quality of work and standards in patient care, ethical conduct and uniform grooming standards of the nursing service, and including these in the work of each person.

3- education and staff development:

a- providing for orientation of patient on admission and new staff on employment.

b- developing a program of patient instruction in terms of his general needs and specifically in relation to his present illness.

c- learning the process of developing nursing care plans, and guiding nursing personnel in developing one for each patient as a basis for quality nursing care.

d- providing guidance to nursing personnel as needed in work and on request, personally.

f- recognizing leadership capabilities of nursing personnel and submitting study opportunities which would lead to promotion.

g- developing a continuing education program for self, and guiding others to plan for personal and professional advancement.